As a Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) approved site, CLUES provides free tax preparation services for low income individuals and families. We processed more than 1,300 tax returns last year, retuning more than $2.5 million in refunds to the community!

We rely on the support of dedicated volunteers to make this service possible. We are currently seeking bilingual Volunteer VITA Tax Preparers as well as greeters, screeners and interpreters for the upcoming 2017 tax season. Volunteers should commit to a minimum of 3 hours per week between Jan. 26 – April 17, 2018.

On Nov. 28, Minneapolis CPED – Employment and Training, the Minneapolis Workforce Development Board and the Minneapolis Youth Council awarded CLUES as its Adult Service Partner of the Year for our strong performance in the Minneapolis Works program.

CLUES offers free job counseling, job placement, workshops and assistance developing job skills for our clients. While services focus on Latinos, our staff’s capabilities enable us to serve individuals and families from all walks of life including new immigrants and low-income families who dream of a better future.

Thank you to the City of Minneapolis for this incredible honor! Congratulations to Ann Meyers, CLUES Associate Director of Employment & Career Development, and Maribel Navarrete Reyes, Employment Coach.

At CLUES Fiesta Latina 2017, artist Ana Laura Juarez hosted an arts table where guests were invited to draw or write about the two questions: What is my home? and What are my roots? Several seniors from CLUES Aging Well day program participated in the project, and two of their pieces have been chosen for an art exhibit titled HOME that is currently showing at the Open Eye Figure Theatre!

In HOME, artists explore the struggle of feeling uprooted, track a journey through objects, honor immigrant sacrifices through a personal and historic lens, and define cultural identity on their own terms. Learn more.

HOME will be on display through December 23. The exhibit is open one hour before 7 pm theater performances on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.

On Nov. 29, CLUES was pleased to host an Open House event and presentation for elected officials at our St. Paul Headquarters. The open house was an opportunity for legislators and other key policy makers to see our facility and learn more about our organization and the impact our critical services are having for Latinos and immigrants in Minnesota.

The program included presentations from CLUES staff around our work in mental and chemical heath, adult education, youth enrichment and education, workforce development, financial empowerment and more. President Ruby Lee spoke about the present and future needs of Latinos in the state and shared information about CLUES Headquarters Expansion capital campaign.

There are an estimated 300,000 Latinos in Minnesota today, of which 45 percent are under the age of 21. By 2035, Minnesota’s Latino population will top a half million, more than 8.5% of the total State population. At CLUES we are committed to empowering equity and inclusion by improving education, health, engagement and socio-economic conditions for the children, youth, adults and elders we serve.

CLUES was honored to receive a Certificate of Appreciation for the contributions our Refugee Employment Services program has made to the refugee populations in Minnesota. The award was presented by Jim Koppel, Assistant Commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Human Services at the annual Resettlement Programs kick-off event.

Are you looking for a way to make a difference in the life of a Latino youth? CLUES is currently recruiting mentors for our YA! Youth in Action Program. YA! guides Latino high school students to achieve their hopes and dreams through individual coaching, service projects, networking opportunities and other support.

We currently need mentors for this school year in both Minneapolis and St. Paul. Visit the YA! Program page to learn more and to apply to be a mentor! For any questions, contact yaprogram@clues.org.

Kevin Warren, Chief Operating Officer of the Minnesota Vikings, is the keynote speaker at CLUES Gala Latina on Oct. 5. His personal story and commitment to service are sure to inspire us all!

Having both Latino and African American heritage, Kevin credits his family roots for the values, work ethic and drive that led him to the long-term success he has achieved in life. His call to action to engage in civic leadership and support education and youth-developed initiatives is based on his own personal experiences and challenges growing up.

Don’t miss your chance to hear Kevin’s inspiring story and celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with more than 500 business and community leaders! Click here to purchase your ticket or sponsor a table.

More about Kevin Warren

Kevin Warren was named Chief Operating Officer of the Minnesota Vikings in 2015. He plays a critical role in all business, legal and operational facets related to U.S. Bank Stadium and other key projects.

Warren has a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from Grand Canyon University, a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from Arizona State University, and a Juris Doctorate Degree from the University of Notre Dame School of Law. Prior to joining the Vikings, Warren worked with the international law firm of Greenberg Traurig, the Detroit Lions and the St. Louis Rams.

Philanthropy is an integral part of Warren’s life, and he and his wife Greta, are active members of the Minneapolis-St. Paul community. Warren places a priority on civic leadership and engagement, serving on several charitable boards.

Join us in celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month at the 2nd Annual CLUES Gala Latina on Thursday, October 5, at the Hilton Minneapolis!

This very special event will celebrate and commemorate the impact of Latino leadership and culture in the Twin Cities community. The Gala will begin with a reception and silent auction at 5 pm, followed by a delicious Latino-inspired dinner and an exciting program. Highlights will include recognition of local Latino leadership, a live auction, entertainment from Salsa del Soul, and special guest Kevin Warren, COO of the Minnesota Vikings, who will share his inspiring story of how he is empowered by his Latino roots. More information is available at clues.org/GalaLatina.

We invite you to join us by purchasing tickets or sponsoring a table and inviting your friends and colleagues to celebrate together at this spectacular event! You can purchase a table or tickets by following this link. Please feel free to call or contact us at events@clues.orgor 651-379-4202 if you have any questions.

For 36 years, CLUES (Latin Communities United in Service) has served Minnesota’s Latino community by:

Advocating for equitable opportunities that will reduce disparities

Advancing equity through programs and access to resources

Increasing opportunities for Latino families to be healthier, prosperous and engaged

Join us at CLUES Gala Latina this year and support our mission of advancing the capacity of Latino families to be healthy, prosperous and engaged in their communities.

Today CLUES staff launched our Latino Workforce Initiative partnership in Willmar with Ridgewater College, Bethesda Willmar and Rice Memorial Hospital. Representative Dave Baker and leaders from each organization shared their excitement for the initiative, which will provide Certified Nursing Assistant training for Latinos alongside employment support and other wraparound services.

CLUES’ local Workforce Navigator in Willmar, Amelia Amor, is now available to support those interested in the program! Amelia can be reached at 320-222-5649 or Amelia.Amor@ridgewater.edu, and her office is located in Ridgewater College’s Customized Training building at 2101 15th Ave. NW in Willmar. Click here to learn more about the CNA training in Willmar.

Today the President and his administration announced their rejection of DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals). Ending DACA threatens millions of young people with separation from their families and the only country they’ve ever known as home.

“It is a sad day in America,” stated Ruby Lee, President of CLUES (Comunidades Latinas Unidas en Servicio – Latino Communities United in Service). “Dreamers have been in this country for many years and have earned the right to stay. They contribute to their communities, they pay taxes, they are consumers and they help us meet the need we have for workers today.”

Immigrants contribute more than $1 trillion per year to the economy of this country. While brought to the United States as children, DACA participants are now adults who are educated, skilled workers. The notion that we could lose these skilled individuals who represent the workforce of tomorrow is devastating. In Minnesota alone, we will need 145,000 additional workers by 2020. With workforce demands growing faster than the working age population, DACA Dreamers can help us meet these goals.

We call on the President and Congress to act immediately to protect the rights of Dreamers by providing a permanent solution to their immigration status. There is bipartisan legislation ready to move action forward. We urge all Minnesotans to stand with us to defend DACA participants and to help us seek a permanent solution for these young people to continue to contribute to their communities and the country they call home.

At CLUES, we are committed to continuing to support Dreamers and all immigrant families by connecting them to programs and resources that can help them realize their own American Dream. CLUES’ doors are open to provide information and resources for immigrant families and Dreamers.

CLUES (Comunidades Latinas Unidas En Servicio-Latino Communities United in Service) is Minnesota’s largest Latino-led organization, founded in 1981 for Latinos and by Latinos. CLUES mission is to enhance the capacity of Latino families to be healthy, prosperous and engaged in their communities. We help expand access and opportunities for our clients, while advocating for the elimination of barriers faced by our communities.